Colour has always been important – from natural warnings in primitive times to mood enhancers in modern homes.  We know that red indicates heat and blue means cold, but colour also affects atmosphere. It is associated with mood and reaction, is ever-present in our world, and such an integral part of life that its effects are not always consciously noticed; however it does play a significant role.

It is said that the human eye can distinguish over 10 million different colours but each one is based on the colours of the rainbow plus black and white.  In 1666 Sir Isaac Newton developed the Colour Wheel which is a circular diagram showing how colours relate to each other and how they combine to create all other colours.  This is a useful tool for creating harmonious colour schemes

Colours which sit opposite each other on the wheel create contrast, and are striking when used in groups of three e.g. purple, green and orange.  Harmony is created using adjacent colours on the wheel.  If you pick two, three or four colours that lie next to each other,  you can be sure that they combine comfortably because they are closely related  e.g. pink, apricot, peach and gold.

When considering colour for your garden, flowers are usually the first thing that comes to mind. Colour can be introduced in other forms as well: pots, containers, and painted structures will all stay constant while the vegetation changes with the seasons. Different styles need different schemes: Cottage gardens are a pleasing muddle of different colours; Japanese gardens contain muted colours and shades of green, whereas Mediterranean gardens are filled with bright, primary colours.

A well thought out colour scheme in the garden can create atmosphere and provide balance.  It can also emphasis a particular feature and help to attract pollinating insects. When planning a scheme for your own garden it is helpful to use the colour wheel theories, but also is worth bearing in mind the following principles: 

Repetition – keeping one colour a constant throughout a planted area gives continuity and cohesion, however, it is important not to use excessive repetition as this can become monotonous.

Variety – the very opposite of repetition, this is easy to achieve.  Care must be taken not to overdo this principle as the resulting scheme could be disordered and confused.

Balance – balance within a planting scheme is not the same thing as symmetry. This means the colour scheme is co-ordinated as a whole with selected colours linking different parts of the garden.

Sequence – the movement or sequence of the garden can be imaginatively demonstrated using colour; with a variety of contrasts, colour progressions and repetition that leads the eye.

Having considered all the principles and theories involved, applying them may seem a little overwhelming!  However, as an example -  to create a border with a Mediterranean feel, a cool blue scheme could be achieved using the vibrant colours of the Meconopsis grandis (Blue Poppy) combined with Heuchara ‘Key Lime Pie’ and Hosta ‘Gold Standard’ which will give startling contrast and vivid colours.

A long thin garden can be foreshortened with a splash of bold red, perhaps the Leptospermum scoparium (Red Damask), placed in a distant bed. This will bring the end of the garden forward giving a sense of equilibrium. Conversely, a wide, short garden can become balanced by using shades of cool blues such as Ceanothus impressus (Californian lilac) in the far beds with more vibrant colours such as Dahlia ‘Biddenham Sunset’ set off with Melianthus major (Honey bush) in the borders along the sides. 
 

Whilst it may seem like a difficult task, with a little forward thinking, and by means of the tried and trusted theories, using colour to create a beautiful garden can be easier than you think